James Franco Confirms Plans to Co-Star With Nicole Kidman in Broadway Revival of Sweet Bird of Youth

Oscar co-host and nominee James Franco will tackle Tennessee Williams for his Broadway debut.

Hot off scoring a Best Actor Oscar nomination for the emotionally charged rock climbing drama 127 Hours, James Franco confirmed to MTV that he will make his Broadway debut later this year in a revival of Tennessee Williams' Sweet Bird of Youth opposite Nicole Kidman. David Cromer will direct. No dates, additional casting or theater have been announced.

Kidman will play aging actress Alexandra del Lago (known as the Princess Kosmonopolis), while Franco will take on the role of Chance Wayne, the young gigolo who becomes her companion.

Sweet Bird of Youth first opened on Broadway in 1959 with Paul Newman as Wayne and Geraldine Page as Alexandra. The only revival on the Great White Way was a 1975 production starring the late Irene Worth and Christopher Walken.

Not only is Franco an Oscar nominee this year, but he will also co-host the February 27 ceremony with Anne Hathaway. Kidman is expected to be in attendance as a Best Actress nominee for her work in the film adaptation of David Lindsay-Abaire's Pultizer Prize winning play, Rabbit Hole.

The Broadway revival of Sweet Bird of Youth will be produced by Scott Rudin, who worked with Kidman on The Blue Room, the 1998 David Hare Broadway play in which Kidman debuted—and famously got naked—as well as her Oscar-winning turn in The Hours.